In Case You Missed It: 2017 Social Progress Index

11 Jul 2017

Two weeks ago, we launched the 2017 Social Progress Index. The Social Progress Index is the first holistic measure of a country’s social performance that is independent of economic factors, and this year’s release is our best yet.

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Also, in case you missed the Index launch, here are seven headlines from the 2017 results:

1. The world is improving, but not fast or far enough

The world average has gone up by 2.6 percent since 2014, but we need to do better if we are going to meet our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

2. The G7 countries have experienced only modest improvements

Of the G7 countries, Canada is the highest-ranked (6th place globally), while Japan has seen the biggest improvements since 2014. Italy, ranked 24th, remains the laggard of the G7.

Countries as varied as Costa Rica and Nepal are achieving significantly better social outcomes than their GDP per capita would suggest are possible or likely. Others, like the US, France and Saudi Arabia, struggle to achieve levels of social progress that match their economic prosperity.

These are just some of the findings from the 2017 Index, and they only scratch the surface. Explore the full results and download our latest data to see how your country scored and discover global and regional trends.

The Social Progress Index is just the first step towards taking action and creating impact. Using these data, change makers from around the world can better understand the specific challenges each country faces and work together to take these challenges on.

As you find value in its insights, please make a gift to help us continue building a vibrant network, advocate for better data, and provide new insights for agents of progress to act on as they build a better world.

Below is a sampling of media reports and editorials about the 2017 Social Progress Index.